Your dissertation is an endurance test. You need to have plenty of energy to get through it. Whether you are writing an undergraduate dissertation or a Masters dissertation, here are some tips to help you stay the course:
Choose a topic that you really are interested in. You need to keep your motivation up, so tackling a topic that bores you is pointless. Coming up with a good idea can take you months – don’t be surprised by this. Your lecturer should be encouraging you to do this from the start of your course. If it helps, carry a notepad around and jot down ideas that interest you. Whatever you see that inspires you might form the basis for your dissertation.
Planning.
As soon as you know the submission date for the dissertation and the number of words that are required make a plan – including how many words you hope to write each day. As you go through the year you will get a better idea of what you need to be doing and you should keep amending your plan to fit in with this.
Writing up time
In particular, make sure you give yourself plenty of time for the writing up stage. A 15,000 dissertation could take you at least three weeks to write. This is hard work, but the great thing is that it teaches you how quickly you can produce written work. Think how this skill is going to help you at work. If you are asked to write a report in a work environment at any point during your career you will have a very clear idea of how long the work will take you.
Look after yourself
Good sleep, sensible food and a healthy lifestyle are really important – particularly during the writing up stage. You really will produce your best work if you are at your physical peak.
We will offer plenty more pointers on dissertation writing. Keep an eye on this blog. In the meantime, if you are having particular difficulties with your dissertation, let us know by posting a comment below.
